The future of the Ukraine-EU relationship

An Austro-French Dialogue on Ukraine

Since 2013 and the start of the Euromaidan movement, Ukraine has been plagued by violent protests and armed conflicts, while coming closer to the European Union. The escalation of tensions with the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass have certainly opened a new page in the country’s history. Once considered as a "buffer" country between Russia and the West, Ukraine now endeavours to trace its own route, but it continues to face major external challenges.

Perspectives of France and Austria are interesting in this respect due to their respective understanding of the Ukrainian conflict, relations with Russia and interest for geopolitics in the East. Institut Montaigne and the Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe organize this conference to lay the groundwork for the future relationship between Ukraine and the European Union, in a world where post-Covid European solidarity, Russian conflictual tendencies but also the aspirational black sea power Turkey and growing influence China, have never been more meaningful and important.

On this occasion, we will welcome the following keynote speakers:

for the presentation of country’s positions:

• Marie Dumoulin, Deputy Director for Russia and Eastern Europe, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Gerhard Sailler, Deputy Director General, Political Affairs, Director of the Department Russian Federation; Eastern Europe, Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs

for the debate:

• Michel Duclos, former Ambassador, Special Advisor, Institut Montaigne,
• Alexandra Goujon, lecturer in Political Science, université de Bourgogne (Dijon) and CREDESPO
• Thomas Mayr-Harting, former Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service    

Discussions will be introduced by Dietmar Schweisgut, Secretary General, Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe ; Michel Duclos, former Ambassador, Special Advisor, Institut Montaigne.

Please register in advance by using this link.

Copyright: Odd ANDERSEN / AFP